Batting

The Belmont Abbey softball team lost both games of a Conference Carolinas doubleheader to the visiting Limestone Saints, losing the opener 6-4 and falling in the nightcap 4-3. The Saints improve to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey slips to 4-13 overall and 1-3 in league play.

In the opener, Belmont Abbey tied the game at one in the third after Limestone opened the scoring in the first. Shanie McConnell led off with a single to center, moved to third on a two out single by Dani Marietta and scored on Anna Mixa's single to center.

The Saints wasted no time taking back the lead, as they scored five runs in the fourth, four coming on a grand slam by Emma Swearingen to move the Limestone lead to 6-1.

Belmont Abbey chipped away at the Saints lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on Brooke Pegram's double to left that brought home McConnell and Katherine Starnes.

Pegram delivered her third RBI of the game in the sixth as her single to center chased home Amber Faust.

Both teams went down in order in the seventh as Limestone earned its first conference victory.

Kelly Shearer earned the win for Limestone as she allowed three runs on six hits in three and two-thirds innings, striking out two. Courtney Smith picked up the save after allowing one run on three hits in three and one thirds innings. Samantha Jacobs took the loss after giving up six runs on five hits, fanning two and walking six, in three and one thirds innings.

Faust, McConnell and Pegram all had two hits as they represented the Crusaders total of six for the game.

In the nightcap, Belmont Abbey led 3-1 heading into the top of the sixth before Limestone scored three times with two outs, using a costly Crusaders error to score those three runs.

A Limestone double came around two Saints groundouts, and it looked as if the Crusaders would get out the inning, but a fielding error kept the inning alive for Alycia Styles, who made the Abbey pay with a three run blast to dead center. All three of the runs were unearned as it gave Limestone a 4-3 lead.

Belmont Abbey threatened in the bottom of the sixth as Pegram reached third with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning.

Down to its final three outs, Sloane McPeak ripped a one out single and moved to second on a walk to Jena Reisenauer, but both were left stranded as a lineout and a foulout ended the game.

After earning the save in the first game, Smith picked up the win in game two as she entered the game in relief, holding the Crusaders to five hits over five and one-thirds scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one. Jacobs fell to 1-6 after allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits in five and two-thirds innings.

Belmont Abbey recorded eight hits as Mackenzie Dziendziel, Mixa and McPeak all had two. Pegram and Marietta had one each.